On the warm summer evening of August 12, 2014, in Hartford, Connecticut, 18-year-old Deon Palmer, a Black male, was enjoying a game of basketball with his friends on Sigourney Street. The friendly game took a dark turn just before 11:30 p.m. when a car driven by 31-year-old Brandon Henry approached the group. After a brief interaction, Henry drove away, only to return a short time later.
A confrontation ensued between Henry and Palmer, shattering the peace of the night with the sound of
gunshots. Hartford police received multiple 911 calls reporting the shooting near 362 Sigourney Street. Upon arrival, officers discovered Palmer lying face down on the pavement, having sustained gunshot wounds to his right thigh and chest. Emergency services rushed him to Saint Francis Hospital, where he underwent emergency surgery. Despite the efforts of the medical team, Deon Palmer succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at 2:36 a.m. on August 13, 2014.
The Hartford Police Department launched an investigation into the city's ninth homicide of the year. Their efforts led them to identify Brandon Henry as the suspect. On September 17, 2014, an arrest warrant was issued for Henry. At the time, he was already incarcerated for a separate incident. Henry was subsequently charged with felony murder, first-degree reckless endangerment, and criminal possession of a firearm in connection with Palmer's death. His bond was set at $2.5 million. Henry was also facing charges for a shooting that occurred in March 2014 on Hughes Street.
